Council 'comfortable' with mineral sands mine changes

The Horsham council says it wants to be involved in updating waste transport details for a proposed mineral sands mine.

Australian Zircon has unveiled plans to begin mining at Drung, north of the Western Highway rather than to the south.

The company held community meetings this week to update the public.

The council's chief executive, Peter Brown, says the changed plans mean there will not be a large stockpile of tailings on the Grampians side of the highway.

"Generally speaking we're quite comfortable about it," he said.

"We would like to see some more information about the transport plan because this may involve some changes to how the extract from the mine is transported, so we would like to be involved in that but that'll happen at a future point."

He says it could reduce the visual impact of mining close to the Grampians.

"I went to some of the meetings, I didn't hear any concerns raised but there are still a number of processes to go through," he said.

"Australian Zircon have to complete an environmental effects statement, I believe that will require some further work because they're changing their starting point and that is expected to be completed some time in the new year."